Last week, I chatted with Stella Ann George, another Kindle Vella author about her Vella story. As part of my series on Kindle Vella Author Features, I am asking Johnny Miles the same set of questions!
Johnny Miles is the author of sweet, lost, dangerous males on Kindle Vella. Here is the synopsis:
You might think that a retired sailor, a cross-dressing hooker, a fast-talking street urchin, and an autistic boy have nothing in common, but in 1985, these four strangers from different walks of life cross paths in New York City only to find their lives intertwined and irrevocably changed.
sweet, lost, dangerous males by Johnny Miles
What do you write on Kindle Vella, and is it ongoing or completed?
This is my first Kindle Vella and it is an ongoing, episodic story primarily following four main characters, wish a few side characters connected/related to the main four. It’s called “sweet, lost, dangerous males.” The backdrop is a gritty, unapologetic New York City in 1985. Amidst this setting, our main and side characters cross paths and connect, only to find their lives irrevocably changed.
Some authors have shared that they are hesitant to commit to the Vella program because of Amazon’s past failures with programs like the Serials and Worldbuilders programs. Personally, I think there is a lot of room for growth in the program and I hope that Amazon keeps it going because I’m curious to see where it ends up. Did you share any of these hesitations when you decided to publish on Vella?
I hadn’t heard of those other programs, but I knew that Kindle Vella was like Radish. I never wrote for Radish—or what that be on Radish?—so KV was completely new to me. I believe there’s a lot of room for expansion, however, especially once the platform is opened up outside of the US and on other operating systems, other than iPhones.
Like you, I’m curious to see how, and where it goes! I find exciting and it makes me feel so much more productive.
How has the experience been for you, in terms of getting your book out there to readers and navigating the platform overall?
I’ve had a very positive experience so far. Then again, I wasn’t expecting much. For instance, I didn’t expect this to take off overnight. Again, so far it’s only in the States. That being said, Americans don’t much care for waiting, it seems. Most want it now. That’s probably why binging shows on Netflix/Amazon Prime is so popular! Unlike folks in the UK, we don’t have episodic radio shows, which is what I equate KV to. That, or comic books, since comic books come out monthly, but after a while put out a graphic novel with all the previous releases.
The platform has helped me be more productive, and that’s ultimately a good thing. Thankfully, I’ve received a small bonus for two months in a row. It’s not enough to live off of, clearly. But, hey. I’m still writing, and I have many more “seasons” planned in the same series.
Do you feel that the number of readers on your story has increased or decreased since launch?
It’s a slow, uphill climb but I see readership increasing. It helps that word is getting out there. That people are advertising, and that (hopefully) some of the readers are telling other readers, Liking, and sharing. I think the thing to remember is that KV is still in its infancy. I mean, it’s only been two… maybe three months old, now? I know some writers who’ve abandoned KV because they didn’t see the readership they were expecting. Or the financial gain they might have been hoping for. I figured this would be a long-term thing, and not something that would make me rich, or make me a lot of money. Especially “overnight.” Personally, I’m in it for the long haul. And, aside from the additional seasons I have planned for “sweet, lost, dangerous males,” I’m considering writing in this episodic format for a new story that’s itching to come out. Lol!
Has the platform changed the way you write?
Oh, yes. The platform has definitely changed the way I write. Example: though some believe a good length is somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 words, I’m finding I can get a scene off and going in about 2,000 to 2,500. It might be more than what the episodes should be, but I think it might be a fair compromise. At least, this is what I’m hoping. I guess only time will tell, right?
I think another change the platform has brought about is the way my mind works, and how I write the story. I don’t know if that would be the flow, or format, or maybe something else. All I know is I now find myself thinking a bit more about the episode I’m writing: where does it take place? Who’s in the scene? What do they want? What do they hope to achieve? What do I hope to achieve? What do I want the reader to feel? How do I want them to feel? Is it connected? Basically, I’m trying to visualize “scenes” like in a television show, except in prose instead of script format.
Thank you, Johnny, for answering my questions!
I definitely think that Kindle Vella makes me more productive as well. I don’t always post on the same day, but I post once a week and that means I have to sit my butt in the chair and write or edit very consistently.
If you would like to learn more about Johnny Miles, you can visit his website and follow him on Twitter. Don’t forget to check out sweet, lost, dangerous males on Kindle Vella!
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